Darin Thompson

CLEVELAND — Alex R. Spirikaitis, the central figure of the $15 million fraud scheme that led to the collapse of the Taupa Lithuanian Credit Union, was sentenced to 130 months in federal prison Dec. 1 by U.S. District Court James S. Gwin in Cleveland.

Alex R. Spirikaitis and his lawyer have been given more time to conduct pre-indictment negotiations with federal prosecutors over Spirikaitis’ role in a massive fraud case that led to the collapse of the $23.6 million Taupa Lithuanian Credit Union in Cleveland.

Authorities finally captured former Taupa Lithuanian President/CEO Alex R. Spirikaitis Oct. 21, who had been a fugitive since July until he was nabbed by federal agents while walking on a sidewalk on Cleveland’s east side.